Behavioral Thermoregulation in Terrestrial Isopods
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Scott Kight
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 12:45 PM
End Date
26-4-2024 1:44 PM
Description
Organisms have optimal body temperatures and use diverse mechanisms in different environments to modulate internal thermal conditions, a process called thermoregulation. In this study, we examine thermoregulation in two species of terrestrial isopod (Crustacea: Oniscidea), Armadillidium vulgare, which can roll into a sealed ball (rollers), and Porcellio laevis, which are dorsoventrally flattened and capable of swift locomotion (runners). Since ectothermic isopods do not generate their body heat, they can escape extreme changes to body temperature through behavioral thermoregulation, although anatomical differences may lead to different behavioral mechanisms. One primary source of heat exchange for isopods is conduction between their appendages and the surface on which they rest. To examine thermoregulation, we presented isopods with a choice of substrates (calcium carbonate reef sand) with three different granularities (small, medium, large), predicting that conductive heat exchange is higher in small-grained/higher-density sand. Since the animals were acclimated to 23°C, they were expected to stay longer in lower densities of sand (large grained) in extreme temperatures (13°C and 33°C), to minimize conductive heat exchange. Relationships between body shape, environmental temperature, and behavior will be discussed.
Behavioral Thermoregulation in Terrestrial Isopods
Organisms have optimal body temperatures and use diverse mechanisms in different environments to modulate internal thermal conditions, a process called thermoregulation. In this study, we examine thermoregulation in two species of terrestrial isopod (Crustacea: Oniscidea), Armadillidium vulgare, which can roll into a sealed ball (rollers), and Porcellio laevis, which are dorsoventrally flattened and capable of swift locomotion (runners). Since ectothermic isopods do not generate their body heat, they can escape extreme changes to body temperature through behavioral thermoregulation, although anatomical differences may lead to different behavioral mechanisms. One primary source of heat exchange for isopods is conduction between their appendages and the surface on which they rest. To examine thermoregulation, we presented isopods with a choice of substrates (calcium carbonate reef sand) with three different granularities (small, medium, large), predicting that conductive heat exchange is higher in small-grained/higher-density sand. Since the animals were acclimated to 23°C, they were expected to stay longer in lower densities of sand (large grained) in extreme temperatures (13°C and 33°C), to minimize conductive heat exchange. Relationships between body shape, environmental temperature, and behavior will be discussed.